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I wouldn't refer to a year and a half old dog biting as "puppy nipping". Bite inhibition is something that should be started as soon as you get a puppy and should mostly be under control within a few months, certainly by the time teething is over.

At this point I think you should look into getting some professional help with this problem. If you put your general location in your profile, it will appear below your username in all your posts, and maybe someone can refer you to a trainer in your area who can work with you.

Thanks! Been looking around for professional help but wanted to start here. It's attention nipping and play with me nipping that's why I called it puppy nipping

Mine is almost 29 months old and usually the only time he is mouthy is when, to be fair, he hasn't had enough exercise on a given day.

We usually do kind of a time out minus the crate because it isn't always available. He does it mainly when I go to leash him. I tell him "no biting" in a firm voice and just stop what I am doing.
Stopping what I am doing (leashing) and just quietly watching him, seems to get the message across that if you don't stop mouthing, it will be THAT much longer before you get to do what you want. If he is really wound up, it may take a couple of times.

I think it is a case of ignoring what he wants (go for a walk) until he sits quietly and then allows me to leash him without the biting behavior.

Mine can't stand to be ignored, so after a few seconds he will "fall in line" so he can get his attention back.

I wouldn't refer to a year and a half old dog biting as "puppy nipping". Bite inhibition is something that should be started as soon as you get a puppy and should mostly be under control within a few months, certainly by the time teething is over.

At this point I think you should look into getting some professional help with this problem. If you put your general location in your profile, it will appear below your username in all your posts, and maybe someone can refer you to a trainer in your area who can work with you.

01-14-2014 02:02 PM

Sawyer2014

Thanks SuperG. Glad we are normal!lol

01-14-2014 01:53 PM

Sp00ks

Mine is only 10 weeks Thursday and my hands look like I was in a war with a blackberry bush. However, I think I found what works with mine.

Saturday he was a monster, defiant and extremely mouthy. We could not get him to settle down. This was the first time he had acted out this way.

Saturday night I got down on the floor with him. He would bite and I'd tell him "no biting" in a stern voice. If he bit again, I would get up, sit in a chair with my back to him. He sounded like the world was coming to an end. I did this a number of times, each time he went longer without biting me.

Sunday he was a new dog, well behaved, no biting and followed me like a shadow. I can tell I'm going to have to do it again and be consistent with "if you bite, I'm not playing with you" but it worked. Your results may vary, especially with the age of your dogs.

This is my first post as well and it is also about nipping. We've had our MGSD since December 17 and he's 3months old now.

Tried the ouch, replace with toy, hold his mouth shut and say "close your mouth," say no and leave the room. Hmmmm, now as I write this maybe we are using too many different techniques.

I just wonder how long could this last if I actually do become consistant and use one technique?

Ahhh....the proverbial 3 month old nipper. You are in good company aboard the USS Bite Inhibition.

Over the three wonderful GSDs I have had the honor to befriend, I used most of the tactics suggested previously. However, I also employed biting them back when the "ouch" then "ENOUGH" and then finally "you're getting called on a 2 minute biting penalty" and into the kennel with her didn't always get the idea across.

Teaching bite inhibition is definitely a task worth pursuing as you well know at this stage. A GSDs bite force is tremendous and the pup needs to learn this sooner than later. I have no problems with any of our GSDs becoming soft-mouthed and using their jaws in an acceptable playful manner on me. I am convinced that a puppy learning this via it's mother and siblings is adequate if the puppy is biting another dog but not when it applies the same bite force on a human. So, I guess my logic was...you bite me too hard and I will return in kind...not so nice is it?

Granted, a more mature dog with a lack of bite inhibition would be the last dog I would apply my approach on, as it would end up ugly, most likely.

Hang in there and whatever approach you take, be consistent, fair and mostly...be your dog's leader...a regular Rock of Gibraltar.

SuperG

01-14-2014 01:05 PM

Sawyer2014

This is my first post as well and it is also about nipping. We've had our MGSD since December 17 and he's 3months old now.

Tried the ouch, replace with toy, hold his mouth shut and say "close your mouth," say no and leave the room. Hmmmm, now as I write this maybe we are using too many different techniques.

I just wonder how long could this last if I actually do become consistant and use one technique?

It sounds like your dog wants to play with you, not just lie there and chew on something. I suggest trick training, tug, Nosework or find it games, indoor hide and seek, focused obedience... things that the dog can do with you.

David Winners

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